The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller really needs a refresh

techradar.com:

I’ve been a massive fan of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller since its release; I adore the chunky face buttons and the exceptional battery life, and Nintendo absolutely nailed the ergonomics. The fact that it has asymmetrical analog sticks is also another huge win in my book.

However, after almost five years the Switch Pro Controller is starting to feel noticeably outdated, and it’s about time Nintendo gave its premier pad a makeover.

The Switch Pro Controller undoubtedly has its issues, some of which have existed since launch, while others have manifested themselves as the years have rolled on. And considering that the list price of the Switch Pro Controller is still $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.95 (although you can often get it for less), it’s also starting to feel needlessly expensive for what you get. So what can Nintendo do to fix it?

The biggest issue I have with the Switch Pro Controller is its finicky D-Pad. It’s been unreliable since day one, to the point where I tend to avoid using it entirely if I can. 

Play a game of Tetris 99 using the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller’s D-Pad and it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll end up hard-dropping a Tetronimo you didn’t mean to, resulting in early elimination and cries of frustration. And that’s because the Pro Controller’s D-Pad has a nasty habit of falsely registering horizontal inputs as vertical inputs. 

Considering that Nintendo has a history of producing almost impeccable D-Pads over the years (not including the microscopic one on the GameCube controller), the Switch Pro Controller’s borked directional pad really is an outlier for the company. 

The dodgy D-Pad problem is exacerbated further by the fact that the Joy-Con controllers don’t have a dedicated D-Pad either, which